Counter-top brace and trim construction



P 1957 s. HAMMER 2,789,874

COUNTER-TOP BRACE AND TRIM CONSTRUCTION Filed May l1, 1955 IN VEN TOR.5/9 Ml/EL f/flM/VEE 2,789,874 Ice Patented Apr. 23, 1951 COUNTER-TOPBRACE AND rnnvr CONSTRUCTION Samuel HammenNew York, N. Y., assignor toUnited Metal Cabinet Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork This invention relates to counter-top construction and moreparticularly to the type of counter-top such as used on cabinets inkitchens, butlers pantries, and so forth.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved counter-top ofsturdy construction, having usual exposed surface configuration anddevoid of showing of securing means on such surface.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide an improvedbrace for counter-tops of the character mentioned, and particularly forcounter-tops having a metal body.

A further object of the invention is to provide for simple and effectiveinterengagement between the counter-top and said brace.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brace which willadequately support and have retaining engagement with a counter-top thathas a roll front and a rear bib.

Yet another object is to obtain compressive engagement between the braceand body of the counter-top.

The invention further contemplates provision of a brace that may beapplied by a workman at the place of installation so as to be situatedat the exact place where needed.

Still further objects, advantages and constructional features willappear to persons skilled in the art to which the invention appertainsas the description proceeds, both by direct recitation thereof and byimplication from the context.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly of cabinets having myimproved counter-top applied thereto; FFigure 2 is a cross-section takenon line II--II of Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on linesIIIIII and IVIV respectively of Fig. 2; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the brace of the present invention.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawing,the reference numeral designates cabinets of any usual or desiredconstruction, arranged in an assembly side by side and on which isapplied a counter-top 11 here shown as common to and covering threecabinets. The invention is, however, applicable to counter-tops for anydesired number of cabinets in an assembly. The counter-top isprefabricated in desired size and shape and from any suitable material.I preferably use sheet steel to constitute the body 12 of thecolunter-top and of adequate thicknes to be relatively rigid so as notto sag under pressure of maximum loads likelyto be applied thereto innormal use. The sheet steel possesses resiliency which tends to returnthe sheet to a given form upon release of a deforming pressure. Ifsodesired, the steel or other body .12 may be utilized without anycovering material, but preferably has a covering 13 applied to its outerface and preferably adhesively secured thereon. Linoleum, Formica andsimilar materials are examples of coverings 13 that may be used.

In usual procedure of manufacture, body 12 is first stamped, rolled orotherwise brought to its ultimate shape and then the covering 13 isapplied and permanently secured in place by thermo-setting-or otheradhesive. The formed counter-top here shown has a front roll 14 and arear bib 15 each ofwhich is integral with the intervening flat counterportion 16. The front roll of the body 12 curves forwardly downward andhas its edge margin bent rearwardly to constitute a lip 17 directedinwardly under the counter portion 16 in spaced and parallel relationthereto. The covering 13 stops short of the final inward bend of thebody, and lapping the edge of said covering is a strip of trim 18 ofthin metal which is drawn rearwardly under said lip and bent around andpinched against the edge of said lip for holding the trim tightly inplace. The forward edge of said trim is bent inward and embedded in thecovering 13.

The top of the bib 15 is fabricated in a similar manner to that of thefront roll just described, except that the body 12 is provided with aninwardly upwardly turned ledge 19 terminating the downwardly projectinglip 20 of the top roll of the bib. The trim 21 at thetop and rear of thebib has its forward edge bent downwardly and embedded in the covering 13next to the terminal edge of said covering thereat, said trim beingdrawn downwardly and bent under the lip 20 and ledge 19 and pinchedthereat for holding the trim tightly in place. It will be observed thatsaid ledge 19 projects only a short distance inwardly of the top roll ofthe bib and thus has its. upwardly projecting edge spaced a considerabledistance from both the front and top of the bib. End caps 22 enclose theend edges of the counter-top.

At appropriate locations and intervals beneath the counter portion 16and behind bib 15 are braces 23. It is a feature of the invention toprovide a construction of brace such that the workman making theinstallation of the counter-top on the cabinets, as in a kitchen, mayslide each brace to correct relation to the cabinet and counter-top. Forinstance, there may be a brace adjacent each end of the counter-top, andother braces intermediate of the end braces and appropriately placedabove the meeting joint where two cabinets are in meeting engagementside by side, and it is a brace having that re lationship to thecabinets which has been arbitrarily selected for illustration in thedrawing.

Each brace has its main portion constituted as a channel member 24having a horizontal web 25 from which depend side reaches 26 disposed invertical parallel planes and from the bottoms. of which projecthorizontal basal portions or feet 27. Each side reach 26 has a nose 28at its forward end adapted to enter the front roll of the counter-topbody 12 and having a lower edge 29 adapted to have seating engagementupon the upper face of the inturned lip 17 of said front roll. At therear end of said channel member 24 is an upstanding member or bracket 30having appropriate slope and location so as to extend upwardly behindthe bib in contact with the rear face of body material 12 thereof. Theupper end of said bracket is located within the top roll of the bib andbends rearwardly and downward to form a hook 31 in proper position tohook into the upturned ledge 19 terminating the back lip 20 of said bib.Any tendency of said hook to straighten out, will have the effect ofengaging the bracket more firmly against the upstanding wall of the bib.

While it is deemed within the scope of the invention to form bracket 30integrally with web 25 of the channel member 24 and take advantage ofresiliency of parts for introducing the hook or for releasing it fromledge 19 it is preferable to construct it as a separable member 1 fromthe channel. Said bracket is accordingly shown as having a foot 32adapted to be drawn into fiatwise engagement with the channel Web 25 bya screw 33 in cooperation with a nut 34. Said web is also shown suitablyequipped with resilientbuttons 35 at its top surfacewhich will engageand support the counter-top. When screw 33 is tightened, it not onlypulls the book 31 into tight engagement with ledge 29, but alsocompresses said buttons 35 against the counter-top and in so doingexerts a leverage on the channel member tending to firmly seat edges 29of nose 28 against lip 17.

The outwardly projecting feet 27 of the channel member are appropriatelyperforated and provided with nuts 36 or other means for receiving screws37 introduced from inside the cabinets through top flanges thereof,thereby retaining the counter-top in its intended location on thecabinets. Since the brace '23 is adjustable with respect to thecounter-top, it may accordingly be properly located by the installingworkman to position the feet 27 in proper position for the introductionof said screws 37 as the final step of installation.

I claim:

1. A counter-top construction comprising a member adapted to extend fromfront to rear of a counter-top and adjustable in a direction transverseto itself, said member having a nose at its'forward end for interen-'gagement with the counter-top 'thereat, a bracket at the rear end ofsaid member extending upwardly therefrom and providing a downwardlydirected hook at its upper end for effecting hook engagement with thecounter-top thereat, and screw means interconnecting said member andbracket, said screw means extending in a direction effecting atensioning of said hook downwardly against the counter-top and holdingthe counter-top seated in fixed position on said member.

2. A counter-top construction comprising a member adapted to extend fromfront to rear of a counter-top and adjustable in adirection transverseto itself, said member having a nose at its forward end forinterengagement' with the counter-top thereat, and said member havingresilient means interposed between it and said counter-top forsupporting engagement with said countertop, a bracket at the rear end ofsaid member extending upwardly therefrom and providing a downwardlydirected hook at its upper end for eflecting hook engagement with thecounter-top thereat, and screw means interconnecting said member andbracket, said screw means extending in a direction effecting atensioning of said hook downwardly against the counter-top and holdingthe counter-top seated on and compressing said resilient means.

3. The combination of a counter-top having a front roll with an inwardlydirected lower lip, and having a rear bib with a top roll and aninwardly directed ledge therein, and a brace providing a memberextending beneath said counter-top and having means engaging said lip,abracket hooked on said ledge pulling downwardly toward said member, andmeans mounting said bracket on said member and applying'tensioneffective on said hook and ledge in a direction toward said member forholding said brace and counter-top together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,439,027 Stanitz Apr. 6, 1948 2,492,541 Stanitz Dec. 27, 1949 2,535,593Murry Dec. 26, 1950 2,594,516 Swisher Apr. 29, 1952 2,614,014 StanitzOct. 14, 1952 2,626,846 Morris -2 Jan. 27, 1953 2,646,326 Stanitz July21, 1953 2,654,648 Burke Oct. 6, 1953 2,665,183 Battles Ian. 5, 19542,702,221 Hammer Feb. 15, 1955

